New Orleans' Second Line Dancers Carry Joy and History | If Cities Could Dance
Summary
TLDRIn New Orleans, the vibrant second line dancing tradition is a cultural cornerstone, with every Sunday bringing streets alive with music and dance. Rodrick 'Scubble' Oliver, a local cook, embodies this spirit, passionately dancing from sun-up to sundown. His love for second line was ignited by his mother, who instilled in him the joy of movement. Now, he honors her memory with every step, ensuring her legacy lives on through the infectious rhythm that unites the community, turning Sundays into a celebration of life that erases the blues of the week.
Takeaways
- 🎉 New Orleans is known for its vibrant street culture, especially on Sundays, where people gather for parades, parties, and dancing.
- 💃 The second line dance style is characterized by a lack of strict rules, emphasizing personal expression and putting on a show.
- 👣 Footwork is a key element that distinguishes a really good second line dancer.
- 👵 The tradition of second line dancing is deeply rooted in the culture and passed down through generations.
- 👨🍳 Rodrick, also known as Scubble, is a cook by day and a passionate second line dancer from sun-up to sundown.
- 🏡 Growing up in the Treme area, one of the oldest neighborhoods, Rodrick was immersed in jazz and second line dancing from a young age.
- 🎵 The music, particularly the brass instruments like trombones and trumpets, is said to touch the soul and is central to the New Orleans experience.
- 🤗 The second line parades are a time for community, where people reconnect, share hugs and kisses, and dance together.
- 🙌 Rodrick's mother introduced him to second line dancing at a young age, and it became a way for him to honor her memory when she passed away.
- 🌟 The second line parades offer a respite from the week's hardships, providing a single day of joy that can make the entire week worthwhile.
- 👑 Rodrick sees himself as a role model for the younger generation, encouraging them to embrace their potential as 'young kings' and 'young queens'.
Q & A
What is the significance of Sunday in New Orleans according to the script?
-Every Sunday in New Orleans, people take over the streets for parading, partying, and dancing, which is a significant cultural event.
What is the second line dancing and how does it relate to the speaker's identity?
-Second line dancing is a style of dance that originated in the Treme area of New Orleans, and it is deeply ingrained in the speaker's culture and personal identity.
How does the speaker describe the footwork in second line dancing?
-The speaker emphasizes that footwork is crucial in second line dancing, and it separates a really good dancer from others.
What role does the speaker's grandmother play in his connection to second line dancing?
-The speaker's grandmother is mentioned as a part of the cultural heritage that includes second line dancing, indicating that it has been passed down through generations.
What is the speaker's daytime occupation, and how does it contrast with his weekend activities?
-The speaker is a cook by day, but he spends his weekends, from sun-up to sundown, participating in second line dancing.
How does the speaker's upbringing in the Treme area influence his dancing?
-Growing up in the Treme area, one of the oldest neighborhoods in New Orleans, has instilled in the speaker a certain pep in his step and a deep connection to jazz and second line dancing.
What was the speaker's mother's wish regarding her passing, and how does it relate to his dancing?
-The speaker's mother wanted him to 'roll' or dance for her when she passed away, as she loved second line dancing as much as he does.
How does the speaker feel when he dances, and what does it represent for him?
-When the speaker dances, he feels his mother's presence and her smile, as if she is watching him. Dancing is a way for him to honor her memory.
What is the impact of attending a second line on one's week, according to the speaker?
-Attending a second line on Sunday can make one forget about six bad days of the week, as it uplifts the spirit and provides a sense of community and joy.
How does the speaker describe the atmosphere at a second line event?
-The speaker describes the atmosphere as positive and familial, with no negativity, where people come together, and everyone is treated like family.
What message does the speaker want to convey through his dancing to the younger generation?
-The speaker wants to inspire the younger generation by reminding them that they are 'young kings' and 'young queens' themselves, encouraging them to carry on the tradition of second line dancing.
Outlines
🎭 Second Line Dancing in New Orleans
The paragraph introduces the vibrant culture of New Orleans, particularly focusing on the tradition of second line dancing. It describes the communal aspect of the dance, where there's no right or wrong way to dance, but the footwork is what distinguishes a skilled dancer. The narrator, Scubble, shares his personal connection to the dance, stating that it's part of his heritage and lifestyle. He mentions his grandmother's influence and his own dedication to the dance, which he practices from sun-up to sundown. The paragraph also touches on the origins of second line dancing in the Treme area, which is one of the oldest neighborhoods in New Orleans, and the impact of music on the soul, creating a sense of unity and family among the participants.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡New Orleans
💡Second Line Dancing
💡Footwork
💡Treme
💡Jazz
💡Cultural Heritage
💡Community
💡Energy and Stamina
💡Tradition
💡Inheritance
💡Role Model
Highlights
New Orleans' unique Sunday street takeovers for parading and partying.
The second line dancing style has no strict rules, emphasizing individual expression.
Footwork is key to distinguishing a great second line dancer.
Second line dancing is a cultural tradition passed down through generations.
Rodrick, also known as Scubble, is deeply connected to second line dancing.
Scubble's grandmother was also a second line dancer, indicating its cultural significance.
Scubble's day job as a cook contrasts with his passion for second line dancing.
The Treme area's historical importance in the origins of jazz and second line.
Growing up in Treme instills a certain 'pep in your step'.
Scubble's mother introduced him to second line dancing at a young age.
Scubble's mother's passing and her request for dancing in her memory.
Dancing as a form of honoring Scubble's mother and keeping her spirit alive.
The transformative power of second line on a bad week, making Sundays special.
The unique atmosphere of New Orleans, with its music touching the soul.
The community and familial aspect of second line gatherings.
The absence of negativity and the unity among second line participants.
Scubble's role as a mentor, inspiring the younger generation.
The inevitability of aging and the need for new dancers to carry on the tradition.
Transcripts
This being New Orleans,
every Sunday, we take over the streets.
Parading, partying, people dancing.
The style of second line dancing,
there's no wrong or right way.
But the footwork,
that's what separates a really good dancer.
It's all about putting on a show.
It started generations before me.
Even my grandmother got footwork.
It's just part of my blood. It's part of my culture.
It's part of the way I live.
My biological name is Rodrick,
but everyone calls me Scubble.
I'm a cook by day, and I second line sun-up (to) sundown.
Energy and stamina-wise,
like, not too many people are gonna out-dance me.
I grew up in the Treme area.
It's one of the oldest neighborhoods.
Jazz and the second line, it originated in the Treme area.
I mean, (if) you grew up around here,
you walk with a certain pep in your step.
When I was like four,
my mama introduced me to second line.
I was always a hyped-kid. I couldn't keep still.
Anytime I hear the band, I was moving.
When my mother passed when I was like 17,
the day before she passed, she just was like,
"When I go, I don't wanna hear all that crying and stuff.
You just gotta roll for me."
'Cause she loved it just as much as me.
Every time I hear that beat,
most of all I'm dancing for my mother
'cause I know she watching.
That smile, I feel that's
her smiling through me.
You can have six bad days,
Monday through Saturday. You have six terrible days,
and get up Sunday and go to (the) second line,
and you're gonna forget.
Just that one day gonna made your whole week.
- Everyone says, "Nothing like New Orleans."
And just something about the trombones, the trumpets.
The music, when it goes through you,
it touches your soul.
You see a lot of people that you haven't seen
in a long time.
You get hugs, kisses. You get some that come dance with you.
It's just a great feeling.
- It's no negativity. Like, everyone out there,
they coming together, and they treat everybody like family.
From my dancing, I just want people to know that
the kids are watching, and I tell them, like,
"You a young king yourself."
Or, "You a young queen yourself."
I can't go this long forever, like,
we all gotta get old.
Somebody gotta replace me.
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